Needle threader

ABSTRACT

A body defining a handle portion is provided and includes a thin plate-like projection extending outwardly of one marginal edge portion of the body. The projection has an opening formed therethrough of a size to receive a strand of thread therethrough and the projection is sufficiently thin and of a length and width to be inserted through the eye of a needle with at least a portion of the opening formed through the extension displaced through the needle eye.

United States Patent [191 Pearce Oct. 8, 1974 1 NEEDLE THREADER 136,3647/1952 Sweden 223/99 [76] Inventor: Ben Pearce, 6161 Gulf Winds Dr.,

Primary Examiner-George H. Krizmamch Petersburg 33706 Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; [22] Filed: Sept. 5, 1973 Harvey B. Jacobson21 A 1. No.: 394 452 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT A body defining a handle portionis provided and in- (g1. cludes a thin plate like projection extendingoutwardly [58] Field 223/99 of one marginal edge portion of the body.The projection has an opening formed therethrough of a size to receive astrand of thread therethrough and the pro- [56] I References cuedjection is sufficiently thin and of a length and width to UN E STATESPATENTS be inserted through the eye of a needle with at least a2,411,118 11/1946 Schuster 223/99 portion of the opening formed throughthe extension FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS v dlsplaced through theneedle 329,606 5/1930 Great Britain "223/99 8 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresNEEDLE THREADER This invention relates to a needle threader which may beused in threading a needle with yarn or other bulky thread. The needlethreader enables the threading process to be quickly accomplished with aminimum of effort and without the requirement of more than minimumdexterity.

The invention has been primarily designed for use in threading tapestryneedles used with yarn and other bulky threads. However, it will beapparent that the needle threader may also be utilized in conjunctionwith other types of needles.

In needlepoint, the choice of yarn and needle is governed by the size ofthe mesh of the canvas being used. The yarn should be thick enough tocompletely cover the mesh of the canvas and yet the needle should besmall enough to pass through the openings in the canvas withoutloosening or spreading the weave of the canvas. Accordingly, the yarnused must be tightly compressed where it passes through the needle tothe extent that it is extremely difficult to thread the needle with yarnof the desired width.

Also, in crewel embroidery the needle should be of a diameter that willmake'holes in the fabric only of a size that will accommodate thethickness of the yarn used. Hereagain, difficulty is encountered inthreading the needle.

The threader of the instant invention may be inexpensively manufacturedout of aluminum, although it can be formed of any sheet metal or othersuitable sheet material. 7

Heretofore several needle threaders have been designed which employ aloop of fine gauge wire that is first inserted through the eye of aneedle. After the loop is passed through the eye of the needle thethread is dropped through the loop and the eye-of the needle is thenpulled out over the loop to thread the needle. This form of threader isapparently wholly adequate when utilizing fine sewing thread. However,when this type of needle threader is used in conjunction with thickyarn, it is very difficult, and in some cases impossible, to pull theneedle out over the loop without breaking the loop due to the forcerequired to slip the eye of the needle off the loop after the yarn hasbeen passed through the loop.

Although the threader of the instant invention defines a type of loopwhich may be inserted through the eye of a needle, the threader of theinstant invention is constructed of thin sheet material. Accordingly,while the thickness of the threader of the instant invention may be nomore than the thickness of the fine gauge wire of a conventionalthreader, the threader of the instant invention is of considerablygreater dimension in the plane of the loop of the threader whereby thestrength of the portions of the threader of the instant invention whichdefine the opening through which thread is passed may be many times thestrength of the aforementioned fine gauge wire of conventionalthreaders. I

The main object of this invention is to provide a threader which may beutilized effectively and efficiently and with little effort to thread atapestry or other similar needle with yarn.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide a needle threader which may be readilyconstructed of various sizes so as to be specifically adapted for usewith various types and sizes of needles and thread.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a needle threaderwhich may be used even by persons having little dexterity or otherpersons having physical impairments.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a needle threader in accordance with the preceding objectswhich will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simpleconstruction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will beeconomically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. '1 is a side elevational view of a first form of needle threaderconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first form of needlethreader with an associatedneedle to be threaded positioned adjacenttheneedle threader;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustratingan intermediate step inthreading a needle through the utilization of the needle threader andwith the threader and needle illustrated in perspective; 7

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the. next to the laststep'used in threading a needle;

FIGQS is a perspective view of a threaded needle;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical' sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6of FIG. 3;I i

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a second form of threader adaptedto be utilized in conjunction with needles of two different sizes;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third form of needle threaderconstructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view of the upperportion of the needle threader illustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the I numeral 10generally designates the first form of threader of the instantinvention. The threader 10 includes a body 12 having a main portion 14'and a thin plate-like projection 16 extending outwardly of one marginaledge portion 18 of the main portion 14. The projection 16 is generallycircular and has a central concentric opening 20 formed therethrough.The projection and main-portion 14 of the body 12 are integrally formedfrom a single piece of sheet material such as aluminum. Also, it may beseen that the marginal portion 18 defines a straight line extendingalong a chord of the otherwise circular body 12.

When using the threader 10, a needle 22 is displaced downwardly over theprojection 16 in the manner illustrated by the arrow 24 in FIG. 2 untilthe needle 22 is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 3. Then, a length ofyarn 26 is passed through the opening 20 and the needle 22 is thereafterswung upwardly and over the projection 16 from the position illustratedin FIG. 3 of the drawings, through the phantom line positions designatedby the reference numeral 28 in FIG. 4 of the drawings andto the solidline position designated by' the reference numeral 30 in FIG. 4 of thedrawings with the marginal edge portion 18 acting as a fulcrum. Then,the needle 22 has its eye portion slid along the yarn 26 to the leftuntil the end 32 of the yarn 26 passes through the eye 34 of the needle22. At this point, the needle 22 is fully threaded and may be moved awayfrom the projection 16.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 7 of the drawings,there will be seen a second form of threader referred to in general bythe reference numeral l and which is substantially identical to thethreader 10, except that the body 12' includes a second straightmarginal portion 36 opposite the marginal portion 18 and outwardly fromwhich a smaller projection 38 having a smaller opening 40 formedtherethrough extends. Of course, the projection 16' of the threader 12'-is adapted to be used in conjunction with needles having larger eyeportions than the needles to be used in conjunction with the projection38.

With reference now more specifically to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawingsthere will be seen a third form of threader referred to in general bythe reference numeral l0" and which includes a projection 42 similar tothe projection 16 but which is not provided with a central opening.However, the projection 42 has a notch 44 formed therein immediatelyadjacent the body 12" of the threader l0" and the notch 44 serves thesame purpose as the opening after the needle 22 has been inserted downover the projection 42, see FIG. 8.

Each of the three forms of threaders disclosed hereinbefore are capableof efficiently and quickly threading a tapestry needle with thick yarnin a manner which is believed to be obvious from the foregoingdescription. Furthermore, each of the threaders may be readilymanufactured at bare minimum costs out of any suitable plate-likematerial.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the'exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a body including a main portion and a thin plate-likeprojection extending outwardly of one marginal portion thereof andhaving a rounded outer periphery, said projection having an openingformed therethrough of a size to receive a strand of threadtherethrough, at least the peripheral portion of said opening definingthe outer portion thereof being arcuate and opening inwardly toward saidbody, said projection being sufficiently thin and of a length and widthto be inserted through the eye of a needle with at least the outerperipheral portion of said opening displaced through said eye, said bodymarginal portion including one edge portion adjacent said projectiondefining a fulcrum surface against which the terminal end of the eye endof a needle, through whose eye said projection extends, may be abuttedand about which the remote pointed end of the needle may be swung awayfrom said body to displace the eye portion of the needle off saidextension.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said opening comprises a closedopening through said projection.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said opening comprises a notchformed in and opening outwardly through one marginal portion of saidprojection.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said one marginal edge portion ofsaid projection is disposed adjacent said main portion of said body andthe latter defines one side of said slot.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said main body portion andprojection comprise integral portions of a thin plate-like member.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said body includes a second thinplate-like projection projecting outwardly therefrom, said secondprojection also having an opening formed therethrough of a size toreceive a strand of thread therethrough, said second projection beingsufficiently thin and of'a length and width to be inserted through theeye of a needle with at least a portion of said second opening displacedthrough said eye, said body including a second marginal edge adjacentsaid second projection and also defining a fulcrum surface.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said openings comprise closedopenings formed through said projections at points spaced from said mainportion of said body.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said opening comprises a closedopening through said projection, saidprojection being generally circularwith said closed opening generallycentered therein, the radial extent ofsaid projection, outwardly of and about said opening, being considerablygreater than the thickness of said projection.

1. In combination, a body including a main portion and a thin plate-likeprojection extending outwardly of one marginal portion thereof andhaving a rounded outer periphery, said projection having an openingformed therethrough of a size to receive a strand of threadtherethrough, at least the peripheral portion of said opening definingthe outer portion thereof being arcuate and opening inwardly toward saidbody, said projection being sufficiently thin and of a length and widthto be inserted through the eye of a needle with at least the outerperipheral portion of said opening displaced through said eye, said bodymarginal portion including one edge portion adjacent said projectiondefining a fulcrum surface against which the terminal end of the eye endof a needle, through whose eye said projection extends, may be abuttedand about which the remote pointed end of the needle may be swung awayfrom said body to displace the eye portion of the needle off saidextension.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said opening comprisesa closed opening through said projection.
 3. The combination of claim 1wherein said opening comprises a notch formed in and opening outwardlythrough one marginal portion of said projection.
 4. The combination ofclaim 3 wherein said one marginal edge portion of said projection isdisposed adjacent said main portion of said body and the latter definesone side of said slot.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mainbody portion and projection comprise integral portions of a thinplate-like member.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bodyincludes a second thin plate-like projection projecting outwardlytherefrom, said second projection also having an opening formedtherethrough of a size to receive a strand of thread therethrough, saidsecond projection being sufficiently thin and of a length and width tobe inserted through the eye of a needle with at least a portion of saidsecond opening displaced through said eye, said body including a secondmarginal edge adjacent said second projection and also defining afulcrum surface.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said openingscomprise closed openings formed throUgh said projections at pointsspaced from said main portion of said body.
 8. The combination of claim1 wherein said opening comprises a closed opening through saidprojection, said projection being generally circular with said closedopening generally centered therein, the radial extent of saidprojection, outwardly of and about said opening, being considerablygreater than the thickness of said projection.